Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Accuracy of parasite tests and infection rates in cats in Jataí Brazil
By de Souza, Isa Marianny Ferreira Nascimento Barbosa et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2025·Laborató·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Accuracy of parasitological techniques and positivity for endoparasites in stray and household cats in Jataí, Goiás, Brazil.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 19.2% of cats in Jataí, Brazil, had intestinal parasites, with hookworm eggs being the most common. Both stray and household cats were tested, and there was no significant difference in infection rates between the two groups. However, male cats and those that were not neutered had higher rates of infection, with nearly 29% of non-neutered males testing positive. The researchers determined that the Willis technique was the best method for diagnosing hookworms, but using a combination of techniques could help detect other types of parasites as well.
People also search for: cat intestinal parasites symptoms · hookworm treatment for cats · why is my cat losing weight · non-neutered cat health risks
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the positivity of intestinal parasitosis in cats from the city of Jataí, Goiás, as well as to determine the accuracy of different parasitological techniques applied. 120 samples were collected, 64 from household cats and 56 from stray. The parasitological techniques of Willis, Sheather, Faust, Hoffman-Pons-Janer-Lutz and Rugai staining were then performed. The positivity rate of endoparasites in the analyzed samples was 19.2%, with a predominance of hookworm eggs. Cystoisospora spp. and Hammondia hammondi oocysts were also found, with a case of co-infection with the two species. No statistical difference in positivity was found between household and stray cats. However, a significant difference was found upon evaluating sex and neutering status, revealing that male cats and non-neutered animals showed higher positivity rates, with 28.8% of non-neutered animals testing positive compared to 9.83% of neutered animals. The Willis technique was considered the gold standard for hookworm diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 91.3%. While the Willis technique was identified as the gold standard for detecting hookworm eggs, the evaluation of other methodologies demonstrated that the integration of techniques can improve the detection of various parasitic stages.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40197874/